Teacher not wanted, angry parents say

NEW GERMANY — Furious parents packed into the New Germany Elementary School gymnasium Tuesday night to say they do not want a fired teacher back in the classroom after he was convicted of a sex act.

“That man just needs to leave, walk out that door, and this would be all over,” said Barbara Veinot, who has two granddaughters in the school.

Veinot was one of several community members, including local municipal councillors and the area MLA, not allowed into the meeting, which the South Shore Restorative Justice Society hosted.

It called the meeting to talk with parents about how Peter Speight can be reintegrated into the workplace after a Nova Scotia Supreme Court justice ordered that he get his job back.

Speight taught at the elementary school before he pleaded guilty to three incidents in the fall of 2007 in which he stopped his car, hailed a woman on a sidewalk and masturbated in front of her when she came to the driver’s window.

A provincial court judge granted Speight a conditional discharge, meaning he will have no record of conviction for the offence if he complies with certain conditions.

The South Shore regional school board fired Speight, but the Supreme Court ruling means it must hire him back.

The Education Department revoked Speight’s teaching certificate, but he is appealing to get that back. Department spokesman Dan Harrison said no hearing date has been set.

If Speight is allowed back in the classroom, several parents will apply to transfer their students out, Veinot said.

“My daughter, in particular, was preparing the papers to move her two children to Newcombville (Elementary) School. She is going to take them out of this school. She will not let her two girls be in here with him, no way.”

Veinot was able to attend a restorative justice meeting between Speight and parents of children he may teach that was held at the school Monday night.

Cathy Moore, municipal councillor for the area, argued that she should be allowed in, along with two fellow councillors and Lunenburg NDP MLA Pam Birdsall.

“I’ve been elected by these parents and people in the community to represent them, and I feel as though this is something that is being done … I don’t think they’re listening to the parents,” Moore said.

“The parents have spoke. They don’t want this teacher in this school. I support them on that. I’m upset that I can’t go in.”

She said she wants to support the parents and show them “that if they do not want somebody like this teaching their child, that people should listen and respect it.”

Jolene Emino Mailman has a step-grandchild in the school and she, too, wanted to go into the meeting.

She acknowledged Speight has asked the community to forgive him, but Emino Mailman said she doesn’t think that will happen.